62 LIFE ON THE FARM. 



ARRANGEMENT AND SHAPES OF LEAVES. 



Leaves are arranged in various ways on the 

 plant. Whatever the mode may be, it is always 

 the best way of getting the greatest supply 

 of air and light. Some are arranged in circles 

 around the stem, the largest being at the bottom, 

 and the others growing smaller toward the top. 

 This arrangement is similar to that of the petals of 

 the rose, and for that reason is called the rosette 

 type. The mullein, garden cabbage, and bell- 

 flower are good examples of this type. With such 

 plants the lowest leaves are not only the largest, 

 but their leaf stalks are the longest, pushing out so 

 as not to be shaded by the ones above. Instead of 

 growing out directly beneath the ones above, they 

 grow between them, thus securing a position where 

 nearly all of the leaf is in full light. 



Another type of leaf arrangement similar to the 

 rosette is that of many climbing vines, the redbud 

 of the pea family, and many other plants. In this 

 type the leaves are placed very much the same as 

 the shingles on the roof of a house. W T hen the 

 plant is in full foliage, they will actually shed water 

 during a light shower. This arrangement is such 

 that the spaces between the upper leaves let light 

 fall upon the leaves below. It is thought by some 

 that this habit, together with that of all kinds of 

 plants whose leaves slope outward and downward, 

 is for the purpose of carrying the water of rains 



